Our heart often knows we need a change long before our mind does. Some changes are unexpected, seemingly coming out of nowhere, but there are also times when the need for change comes slowly over time. Both versions of change are powerful, but they look different from one another.
Change Isn’t Always Welcome
Most people aren’t a fan of change. There’s safety in doing the same thing, the same way, with the same people, but time moves forward, and it’s nearly impossible for things to stay the same. Illness, injuries, or other radical changes can create pain and suffering and no one wants to volunteer for those.
Change Isn’t Always Easy
Sometimes change is what’s best, but there’s resistance. Doing what’s easy or what’s always been done can feel much safer than taking a risk or rocking the boat. Sometimes change comes with facing tough truths about ourselves and situations that we would rather avoid than tackle.
Change Isn’t Always Obvious
There are times when we don’t realize change is what we need. Rather than recognizing change as a beneficial solution, we fall into depression, anxiety, or hopelessness. It can be hard to want to make changes when they feel like a burden rather than an opportunity, but looking for warning signs can help.
Here’s how to know if you should be considering a change:
Warning Sign: You are bored and lack motivation. If you’ve ever lost sleep the night before a trip, big event, or something fun, you know the feeling of excitement to get up and get going. Without new and challenging experiences, life can become boring and the motivation to get up and get going wanes. Before long, life looks dull and it’s easy to slip into a predictable routine.
If you struggle with boredom in everyday life, it may mean you need a change. You don’t have to radically sell off your belongings and become a nomad, but you can shake things up and introduce something new and fun into your life.
Warning Sign: You aren’t learning anything new. Humans are designed to learn and adapt. Growth is part of what helps boost cognition, emotional maturity, and becoming masterful at certain tasks. Being stagnant can lead to brain fog, lack of motivation, and a lost sense of purpose.
If you aren’t learning anything new, it could mean you need a change. From boosting your career goals, to learning a new hobby, introducing some change can actually help your mind stay strong and prevent age-related illnesses.
Warning Sign: You long for more. If your heart tells you there’s got to be more to life than what you’re experiencing, pay attention. Your intuition often knows when you need change. Spend time exploring your feelings and determine what your heart longs for and start to make changes in that direction.
Warning Sign: You’re completely burnt out. If you’ve tuned out and find you are just going through the motions, it’s time for change. Burnout can look like apathy, exhaustion, and can also include somatic complaints like frequent illness.
In many cases, change can alleviate the symptoms of burn out and reignite passion and drive for life.
Warning Sign: You’re envious of others. If you’ve started feeling jealous of others and convinced you can’t be, do, or have what you really want, it’s a clear sign you need change. Coveting what other people have emphasizes helplessness and hopelessness.
Focus on one thing you desire and make change in that direction. The confidence and skills you learn to make the change will transfer to other areas of life making it easier to embrace change and go after what you want.
Change is a natural, albeit often challenging, part of life. While it's not always welcome, easy, or obvious, recognizing the warning signs can help you understand when it's time for a shift. By staying attuned to feelings of boredom, stagnation, burnout, and longing, you can take proactive steps to introduce positive changes that reignite your motivation, sense of purpose, and passion for life. Embracing change allows you to break free from the constraints of the past, giving you the confidence to pursue a more fulfilling, enriched future.
